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Escobar's Brother Injured by Letter Bomb in Prison

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December 19, 1993, Page 001011 The New York Times Archives

The elder brother of Pablo Escobar was injured today by a letter bomb in his prison cell.

"Roberto Escobar is in a state of consciousness with multiple injuries from an explosion," a hospital spokeswoman told local radio. She added that he would undergo surgery on his eye and that his injuries had "put his life in danger." She said the prognosis was not satisfactory.

Mr. Escobar was rushed to the Las Vegas medical clinic in the south of Medellin after a letter bomb exploded in his cell at the Itagui maximum security prison during visiting hours this afternoon, the Caracol radio network reported.

The network said that the letter bomb, which had arrived by mail addressed to Roberto Escobar, also injured two prison guards. It said that Mr. Escobar also suffered injuries to his face, abdomen and hands. Visitors Detained

Caracol said prison authorities had cordoned off the grounds and had detained three visitors for questioning. An armored car was parked in front of the prison as justice officials and specialists in explosives investigated the bombing, it said.

Prison and justice authorities have declined to comment on the bombing.

Roberto Escobar is the brother of Pablo Escobar, the drug cartel leader who died in a shootout Dec. 2 with members of an elite army and police search force in Medellin, about 150 miles northeast of Bogota. Roberto Escobar had asked prison authorities for protection against possible attacks.

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The group later threatened and was believed to have killed many suspected Escobar associates. It also was considered responsible for destroying some of the drug cartel owner's properties. Accused His Rivals

Pablo Escobar had often accused the rival Cali cartel of supporting the paramilitary group. The leaders of the rival cartel took advantage of Pablo Escobar's weakness in recent years to win control of more than 70 percent of the cocaine smuggled to the United States.

Pablo Escobar had been on the run since July 1992, when he escaped with nine of his men, including his brother, from La Catedral prison.

Roberto Escobar had later surrendered and had been returned to prison.

A version of this article appears in print on December 19, 1993, on Page 1001011 of the National edition with the headline: Escobar's Brother Injured by Letter Bomb in Prison. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe